PREPAREDNESS PLAN TUNES & BALLOONS

Transcription

1 51. BEST EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS PLAN TUNES & BALLOONS Overview Information Introduction & description of main event: Macon, Georgia s International Cherry Blossom Festival has attracted people to Macon from across the world since Each year over 350,000 Yoshino cherry trees bloom and provide a beautiful setting for the yearly Festival. Miller Lite Central City Park, the hub of the 10-day Festival, features live music and entertainment, fair food and international cuisine, rides, exhibits, and vendors. Other events outside the Park include concerts, parades, shows, and plenty of shopping. Each year, more events like a community outreach week and several 5K runs are added to the pre- and post-festival activities spanning nearly a month of pink fun. The Festival has been named a Top Festival in Georgia for 2013, Top 20 Event in the Southeast, a Top 50 Event in the United States, and a Top 100 Event in North America. At Tunes & Balloons, the sky was filled with dazzling hot air balloons while great music floated through the air. At the post-festival celebration of the cherry blossoms and the official finale of the 2014 Cherry Blossom Festival, there was fun for all ages with activities for children, live entertainment, hot air balloon rides, Botanical Garden tours, food and beverage vendors, and an amazing fireworks display. Guests were invited to pack a picnic basket and share the evening with good friends or family. The Middle Georgia State College Jazz Band provided soulful musical entertainment at dusk! Hot air balloons have been a part of the Festival since the early 1980 s. This event transformed from a small morning balloon launch to a full-sized balloon and air show, then relocated to its current location at Middle Georgia State College in 2010 and was branded as Tunes & Balloons. The addition of fireworks was made in Description and purpose of Risk Management Plan: The first planning session for the event was held in May of A committee of 10+ individuals from the college, public safety, and Cherry Blossom Festival staff and Board attended each planning session. Through the development of the event planning, it was determined that Middle Georgia State College police and staff would oversee public safety within the event grounds, while a joint effort of hired security officers, Bibb County Sheriff Officers, Macon-Bibb Fire Department, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, Emergency Management Agency, and additional volunteers would oversee operations surrounding the campus. Macon-Bibb Fire Department was also requested to have multiple fire trucks on-site in the areas where the fireworks would be launched, as well as for the hot air balloons. The Fire Department also brought their search and rescue boat on-site to be positioned in the large lake on campus. A mobile command center was established at a visible vantage point in the event space and acted as the base of operations for all participating safety enforcement.

2 Special consideration was given during planning of the event when mapping out the event grounds. Committee used a scaled-map to accurately mark positions of all vendors, activities, tents, roads, and safety enforcement positions. Multiple walk-throughs were coordinated between public safety officials and firework technicians, and Georgia State Patrol positioned multiple officers along the stretch of interstate the fireworks would be visible from to caution motorists of the activity. More than 100 local law enforcement and MGSC staff were involved in implementing best practices and industry standards for the safety of all patrons of the event. Target audience and attendance / number of participants: Hosted at Middle Georgia State College, the event drew more than 5,000 guests to picnic and play among 11 hot air balloons, a vendor market, and a special kids activity area. Overall revenue / expense budget of event: Total Income for Tunes & Balloons came out to $36,296 and the total expenses equaled $37,221. Duration of program (start to finish) and years program has been part of event: The Tunes & Balloons event began at 4pm and lasted until after dark when the spectacular fireworks show ended. Hot air balloons have been a part of the Festival since the early 1980 s. This event transformed from a small morning balloon launch to a full-sized balloon and air show, then relocated to its current location at Middle Georgia State College in 2010 and was branded as Tunes & Balloons. The addition of fireworks was made in Description of sponsor / charity / volunteer / school / other group involvement with program and benefits to each: Country Financial was the presenting sponsor of the Tunes & Balloons Fireworks Finale generously giving over $7,500 and bringing their own hot air balloon display. Country Financial received all the benefits of a Cherry Blossom Sponsorship package including recognition on all printed material as a presenting sponsor and their logo on the award winning website. Along with Country Financial, sponsorships were given by Cox Communications, Cherokee Brick, Atlanta Gas Light, Evergreen Propane, and BB&T Bank. All sponsors received the benefits of the Cherry Blossom Festival Sponsorship package. The number of safety organizations that participated in the Risk Management plan at the Tunes & Balloons event was incredible. These organizations included staff, police, hired security, and volunteers from Middle Georgia State College, Bibb County Sheriff s Office, Macon-Bibb Fire Department, Department of Natural Resources, Georgia State Patrol, Emergency Management Agency, and additional volunteers from the Festival. As our main partner for the event, Middle Georgia State College s estimated value of in-kind labor, materials, marketing, and services is valued at more than $40,000. Overall effectiveness / success of program: With an estimated audience of 5,000+, only two incidents occurred that were reported to safety personnel: a slip and fall that resulted in a minor injury and a missing child that was resolved in less than 15 minutes. The cooperation between law enforcement of various levels, MGSC staff, volunteers, and Cherry Blossom staff was a flawless representation of proper planning and adherence to procedure.

3 Supporting Questions What did you do to update / change this program from the year before? A large Kid s Zone was added which featured 8+ inflatable and obstacle activities for children, but the largest adjustment came with the addition of fireworks which resulted in the extensive work that went into updating and revising our emergency plans for this event. Additional light towers were used in 2014 to contribute to patron safety as they exited the event. Were your updates / changes successful? The addition of the fireworks show to close out the event was a huge success and drew a large crowd. Furthermore, the Kid s Zone inflatables area provided wholesome entertainment for families and many guests commented on the wide variety of entertainment offered for the diverse group of people. Please provide measurable results / examples. Careful coordination between our balloon team, our pyrotechnics team, local and state law enforcement, and the law enforcement and staff at the college allowed us to produce a unique balloon glow and fireworks show to close out the Festival. Attendance was estimated at over 5,000 persons total inside the event grounds. With an audience that large, only two minor incidents occurred, one being a slip and fall, and the other being a missing child. Both were resolved in a short matter of time.

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5 Fireworks Finale Macon, Georgia Saturday, April 5 Presenting Sponsor 4pm-9pm Middle Georgia State College Fun for all ages with activities for children, live entertainment, hot air balloon rides, Botanical Garden tours, food and beverage vendors, and an amazing fireworks display. Pack a picnic basket and share the evening with good friends or family. Supporting Sponsors Ticket Information $5/person Media Sponsors

6 Join Us in Macon, A MARCH 20-29, 2015 Central City Park Pink & Green - St. Patrick s Day Concert Beers, Brats, & Brushstrokes - Biergarten! Pink, White, & Blue Military Ball Hromovytsia Ukrainian Dance Ensemble GEICO Pinkadelic Blossom Parade Third Street Park Festivities The Color Pink Fashion Show & Champagne Brunch Salute to Our Troops Concert All-American Lumberjack Show Food Truck Frenzy Party on the Green Community Outreach Week Tunes & Balloons Fireworks Finale World of Song Ft. Mercer University Children s Choir Visit CherryBlossom.com for a complete listing of events and details